Brooks Koepka Becomes World Number One With CJ Cup Win

Brooks Koepka of the USA fired a closing round of 64 to win the CJ Cup

Brooks Koepka Becomes World Number One With CJ Cup Win
Brooks Koepka wins CJ Cup
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brooks Koepka of the USA fired a closing round of 64 to win the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges by four shots from his countryman Gary Woodland.

Brooks Koepka Becomes World Number One With CJ Cup Win

PGA Tour player of the year Brooks Koepka held off the challenge of Gary Woodland to win his 12th professional tournament.

He closed the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges on 21-under-par.

Koepka began the final round in South Korea four clear and he finished with the same cushion. Woodland pushed hard and pulled level after six birdies in the space of seven holes on the front nine.

The back nine saw quite a duel between the pair, but it was Koepka who came out on top – he came home in just 29 strokes to pull clear and prove that he is one of the grittiest final round players in world golf right now.

“I always felt like I was in control, I felt like I was playing good and I felt like he played a great round, but I always felt like I was in control, which is a good feeling,” Koepka said.

The 2018 U.S. Open and USPGA Champion has now won the last three times he has led through 54 holes.

“I've gotten so much confidence off winning those majors where it's incredible every time I tee it up I feel like I really have a good chance to win whether I have my A-game or not,” he said.

Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello enjoyed a good week. He fired a closing 65 to end the tournament in a tie for third place.

Ryan Palmer climbed the board with a 62 to also finish in that tie for third with Jason Day and Scott Piercy tied for fifth.

The PGA Tour remains in Asia this week as the circuit moves on to the WGC HSBC Champions at Sheshan International.

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The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, South Korea 18-21 October Purse: €9,500,000 Par: 72

1 Brooks Koepka (USA) 71 65 67 64 267 $1,710,000 2 Gary Woodland (USA) 73 67 68 63 271 $1,026,000 T3 Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 73 70 65 65 273 $551,000 T3 Ryan Palmer (USA) 72 70 69 62 273 $551,000 T5 Jason Day (Aus) 73 71 65 67 276 $361,000 T5 Scott Piercy (Aus) 70 65 72 69 276 $361,000 T7 Pat Perez (USA) 72 68 68 69 277 $296,083 T7 Chez Reavie (USA) 68 70 70 69 277 $296,083 T7 Cameron Smith (Aus) 74 67 67 69 277 $296,083 T10 Adam Hadwin (Can) 71 71 72 64 278 $228,000 T10 Ian Poulter (Eng) 70 69 68 71 278 $228,000 T10 Adam Scott (Aus) 75 69 71 63 278 $228,000 T10 J.J. Spaun (USA) 71 70 69 68 278 $228,000

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

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Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.  

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?